A daycare employee at a YMCA facility in Anderson has been taken into custody related to a child abuse inquiry and faces multiple felony charges.
A 20-year-old woman from Anderson, Destiny Valladares, was taken into custody on Wednesday by detectives from Madison County following reports of child abuse. She has been taken into custody on initial allegations of irresponsible child supervision, confinement, and neglect of a dependent.
A former daycare worker stepped forward, prompting the boy’s mother to alert the authorities about the allegations.
She stated that Dean’s teacher applied duct tape to prevent the 3-year-old from removing his diaper. A previous employee reported witnessing the child being left alone in a classroom for as long as an hour. He was allegedly abandoned in the bathroom.
On Thursday, Anderson Police announced that detectives initiated an investigation last month regarding allegations of child abuse at the YMCA Daycare located at Madison Park Church of God in Anderson. Authorities are said to have interviewed several witnesses prior to pinpointing Valladares as a possible suspect.
Authorities reported that investigators located Valladares on Wednesday and took her into custody following an interview. She has now been taken into custody at the Madison County Jail.
Authorities have indicated that arrest affidavits are currently under review by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, and the investigation continues to unfold.
Additional information is expected to be disclosed after the prosecutor completes their review and establishes the final charges. Additional details were not available at this time.
Records available online indicate that Valladares currently has an active criminal case in Anderson City Court. Last month, she was allegedly charged with failing to stop at a stop sign and violating child restraint laws for a child under 8 years old. Her court appearance for this case is set for next Friday, September 27.